Grid member



B. LABAREE Nov. 26, 1946.

GRID MEMBER Filed Aug. 1.1', 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet l T-IGB INVENTOR Benjamin Labcufee ATTORNEY 7 Nov. 26, 1946.

B. LABAREE 2,411,628

GRID MEMBER Filed Aug. -11, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 N VEN TOR B @nj amm La bares.

A TTORNE Y l frame I likewise may be of stainless steel.

Patented Nov. c 26, 1946 by mesne assignments, to The *Buddy Company, lhilalile'll'ihia,y Pa., a corporation of Pennsyl- Vania;

Applicatioxiiaugust 11, 1944; seria-1 N. 549,110;

zfoiaiins. (o1. 13e-'82) This invention relates to grid members, particularly to grid membersfincluding` amain frame element and a multiplicity of light gauge sheet metal Slat-like members.

The object of the present invention is to provide a new and novel means for rigidly mounting a multiplicity of sheet metal slat-like members within a supporting frame and for holding such elements against flexing relative to each other. f

With the above and other objects in View which will be apparent from the following description to those skilled inthe art to which the invention appertains, the present invention consists in certain features of construction and combinations of parts to be hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and then claimed.

In the drawings which illustrate a suitable embodiment of the invention,

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an elongated grid member of the present invention; c

Figure 2 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the line 2--2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged section taken substantially on the line 3 3 of Figure 2; and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged, perspective view of the grid member shown in Figure l.

Referring to the drawings in which like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views, the grid member of the present invention includes a metallic supporting frame I of any suitable cross-section, such as, for example, the

angle section shown, having an inner continuous c flange forming the sides 2 and the top and bottom 3 and 4, respectively, of the frame opening. EX- tending between the sides 2 are a plurality of slats or strips 5 which are spaced from each other and may be of thin gauge metal, such as, for example, stainless steel of .010 thickness. The The ends of the strips 5 are formed with lateral flanges 6 which are welded as indicated at 'I to the side flanges 2.

In order to prevent flexing of the thin strips 5 and to maintain them in accurately spaced relation, a plurality of intermediate spaced supports 8 extending between the top 3 and bottom 4 are provi-ded. The supports 8 are each com.- p-rised of a pair of keepers 9 of thin'gauge stock, such as, for example, stainless steel of .025" thickness.

Each of the keepers 9 is provided with a plurality of slots l5 corresponding in number to the number of strips 5, the metal forming one side of each slot I6 being anged as at I0.

If' desired, VangleA clips areshown inthe draw-ingamay be welded to the keeper 9i with its one lleg. I2Y flush with the opposite side ofthe slot VIii as shown in Figure 3. If'

desired, the leg I2 may be spot welded to the strip 5 las shown in this view.

The two keepers 9 comprising each intermediate support 8 are arranged back-to-back so that the slotted edges overlap each other, the thin strips being disposed in the slots I6 as shown in Figures 2 and 4 of the two keepers 9.

The keepers S are .welded Ato e-ach other, as indicated at I3 in Figure 2, and the ends of the same are bent laterally to vprovi-de opposed flanges I4 which are welded as indicated at I5 in Figure '4 to the top and bottom flanges 3 and 4 respecis overlapped with the rst keeper from the op- This assembly'may posite edges of the strips 5. then be slipped into the frame I, the strips 5 properly adjusting themselves longitudinally relative to each other. This provides for the accurate spacing of the strips 5. The end flanges (i may then be welded to the side flanges 2 of the frame I. After this, the end flanges I 4 of the keepers 9 are welded to the top and bottom flanges` 3 and 4 respectively of the frame I.

In order to insure against lateral movement of the strips 5 the angle flanges I0 at the one side of the strips 5 are bent against the strips 5 to force them in clamped engagement against thev opposite sides of the keeper slots I6 and the angle clip flanges I2.

The intermediate keepers 9 of the present invention'provide a simple arrangement for insuring rigidity of the thin strips 5 and obviate the necessity of positively securing each strip to each intermediate support, thus conserving considerable time in the assembly of the structure.

This expedient also provides a simple and eiiicient arrangement which is particularly advantageous in light weight structures formed of light gauge rsheet metal.

It is to be understood that various changes may be made in the detailed arrangement and construction of the parts described without ldeparting from the spirit and substance of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a grid member having a boundary frame Il, only a yfew of' which provided with four sides and a plurality of spaced parallel metallic grid strips extending between two opposed sides of said frame, a plurality of intermediate supports for said grid strips secured at their ends to the other opposed sides of said frame, each intermediate support comprising a pair of sheet metal elements, each element having a plurality of slots extending inwardly from one edge thereof and corresponding in number and spacing to said grid strips, said elements being disposed back-to-back with the slotted edges in overlapping relation, said grid strips being disposed in the corresponding slots of each element, one side edge of at least some of said slots being angularly iianged and clamping the rib elements ilrmly against the other side edge thereof and a plurality of angle clips secured to at least some of said elements and having leg portions bearing against said grid strips in opposition to the angularly iianged edges of said slots.

2. In a sheet metal grid element, having a foursided sheet metal frame and a plurality of spaced thin gauge sheet metal slats extending between and secured to two opposed sides of said frame, means for maintaining the intermediate portions of said slats against transverse deflection, comprising at least one pair of thin gauge sheet metal strips extending between the other opposed sides of said frame, each of said strips having a plurality of slots along one longitudinal edge thereof corresponding in number and spacing to said slats, the slotted edges of said strips overlapping each other in abutting relation with said slots receiving said slats in embracing relation, at least certain of the slotted edges of each pair of strips being anged at one side of the embraced slats outwardly away from the plane of the strips to engage the slats at spaced regions while the slotted edges at the other side of the embraced slats engage the slats at regions intermediate said spaced regions, means securing the ends of said strips to said other spaced frame sides and means securing the strips of each pair together between at least Vsome of said slats.

BENJAMIN LABAREE. 

